Improved closet for sewing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-TCE.

. WM. P. UHLINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

'IMPROVED CLOSET FOR'SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22,464, dated December 2.8, 1858.

To LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLTAM P. UHLINGER,

of the city of Philadelphia, and State of Penn-A sylvania, have invented a new and Improved Sewing-Machine Closet, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the gures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in an improved construction of the stands for sewing-machines, in which I attach the machine to. a movable platform or table, the latter being so connected with suitable mechanical devices that it may, when the machine is required for operation, be elevated to the top of the stand, `while by lowering the platform into the interior of the same the machine is, when standing idle, not only removed from sight and entirely protected from injury, but the stand itself is, upon the shutting of the lid, transformed into an ornamental piece of furniture, which I therefore terma sewing-machine closet.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawings which form a part of this specication, and in which the same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved sewing-ma chine closet as it appears when the machine 1s not required for use. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation with all parts in the same position as in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the closet, showing the platform and machine in their working position, and Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same.

A A are the sides of the closet, connected by the back B and top and bottom front pieces, C and D, forming together a permanent fixture. The doors E E are hinged to the sides A A in such a way as to admit of being swung around against those sides, in the manner shown at Fig. 3.

F is the lid, hinged to the top of back B. In the interior of this closet, and confined between corner-strips a a, slides the sewing-machine platform G, which is provided with vertical guiding-plates H H. To these plates are,- by means of pins b b, attached the cords I I. These cords pass upward through spaces between the platform and sides A A, and, runconnected to the lid F in such a manner that the opening and shutting of said lid shall elevate or lower the platform. The length of cords and their points of adjustment on lid F are so arranged that upon throwing back the lid into the position shown at Fig. 4 it shall elevate the platform G until the upper surface of the same becomes even with the top of the closet. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) The machine being elevated to this position, it only requires the opening of doors E E to have everything in a convenient form for operation. On reference to Figs. l and 2 it will be further easily understood that by shutting the lid F and by the consequent yielding of the cords I I the platform Gis allowed to descend from its own weight into the interior of the closet, which, when its doors E E are closed, entirely conceals all machinery. s

Having now described the nature of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware that sewing-machine stands have already been made with a view to hide the machine from sight when standing idle, which end is in those accomplished by means of a separate covering or cap, the platform of the machine beingstationary; but this I do not claim. I think, however, it must be evident from the foregoing description that parts of my improved sewing-machine closet may be modied or equivalents substituted without impairing my invention-as, for instance, an arrangement of levers or of gearing may be employed in' place of the cords or chains and pulleys described, all of these being well-known mechanical devices, and in this instance giving the same result; or the platform G may, instead of sliding bodily up and down, be made to turn on pivots. I therefore do not desire to confine myself to the described construction or combination of the various parts in every minutia; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' So combining the sewing-machine platform G with the lid B of the closet that the opening and shutting of said lid shall operate the platform G, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

IN. P. UIILINGER.

Vitnesses:

ALEXR. MARTIN, J. MULHOLLAND. 

